Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Specific Families and Genera => Pleione and Orchidaceae => Topic started by: Chuck on June 20, 2012, 04:40:24 AM

Title: Cypripedium californicum
Post by: Chuck on June 20, 2012, 04:40:24 AM
Anyone tried Cyp. californicum. I am currently growing it in perlite, lavarock and pine needles. It came back in the second year from seedlings I bought last year. I also grow Darlingtonia californica in peat and sand and found that the Cypripediums do not like the mix as much as the Darlintonias.  I was told that the plants take five years to reach blooming size from seeds.

Anyone have any suggestions to grow them better?

Title: Re: Cypripedium californicum
Post by: Maren on June 20, 2012, 09:48:32 AM
Hello Chuck,

you are doing well. Your seedlings may benefit from a little food, as the mixture you are using offers none. Give them a little balanced feed, well diluted. I have C. tibeticum at the same stage as yours, and they responded well to feeding.

All you need is patience.  :) :) :)
Title: Re: Cypripedium californicum
Post by: Chuck on June 20, 2012, 11:07:12 AM
I use a very diluted fish emulsion every month  :).

A friend started cyp. kentuckiense from seed and it took him 12 years to bloom it.  Hopefully it does not take me that long.
Title: Re: Cypripedium californicum
Post by: Anthony Darby on June 20, 2012, 12:17:49 PM
I am assuming the seed was started in vitro on sterile medium?
Title: Re: Cypripedium californicum
Post by: Chuck on June 20, 2012, 08:22:17 PM
I am assuming the seed was started in vitro on sterile medium?

I ordered them online from somebody who does flasking. They arrived the last year in sphagnum moss.
Title: Re: Cypripedium californicum
Post by: Anthony Darby on June 23, 2012, 05:32:27 AM
I ordered them online from somebody who does flasking. They arrived the last year in sphagnum moss.
So about three years old at this stage?
Title: Re: Cypripedium californicum
Post by: Chuck on June 23, 2012, 01:20:13 PM
I think they would be three years old then. But they are two years out of flask
Title: Re: Cypripedium californicum
Post by: Anthony Darby on June 24, 2012, 02:22:41 AM
So five years old then? Cyps are about three years old when deflasked.
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